Board of Health closes Thai Taste restaurant

Wednesday

Nov 13, 2013 at 10:37 AM

DARTMOUTH — At their last meeting, Board of Health Chairperson Thomas Hardman and members Leslie McKinley and Lynne Brodeur voted unanimously to close the Thai Taste Restaurant at 634G State Road due to unhealthy conditions resulting from inadequate cleaning practices.

CHRISTINA STYAN

DARTMOUTH — At their last meeting, Board of Health Chairperson Thomas Hardman and members Leslie McKinley and Lynne Brodeur voted unanimously to close the Thai Taste Restaurant at 634G State Road due to unhealthy conditions resulting from inadequate cleaning practices.

The restaurant, owned by Ekapoom Mera, will be closed at least until Wednesday, Nov. 13, when Health and Sanitary Inspector Janice Young is scheduled to re-inspect the premises.

The failed health inspection and closing process "began with a customer who wrote that the place is very, very dirty," Mr. Hardman noted. "There were two different customers with two different complaints," he explained.

The violations found included old kale and lettuce in a refrigerator drawer, and food debris found on a shelf and on clean dishes. The bathrooms are dirty, the violation indicated, and the owner did not provide paper towels. Other violations included a bad odor and raw seafood lying on top of the salad bar. "I want to shut restaurant down and have the owner clean it. This is a long list of violations over several months, and 37 recent violations," Ms. McKinley said.

"This is a dangerous situation," she told the owner. "Janice has worked with you for months and months, and things are not getting better."

Mr. Mera moved to the location about six years ago; since then, the health department has issued numerous notices, members indicated.

"You (Mr. Mera) noted deep cleaning of the kitchen takes place on every Tuesday, and I was there on a Tuesday, and did not see any cleaning," Ms. Young told the owner. "You do not take it seriously enough. You need to pull out all the equipment and clean all the sides and underneath," the town inspector recommended.

According to Mr. Mera, he guaranteed everything the food touches is clean. "We do clean the equipment and floors. There is no excuse for any of this, and I am waiting for a new refrigerator. I do not have cross food contamination and the chefs are certified," he claimed.

"We do not bake or boil food, we steam it in the Wok cooker, because it needs to be crunchy," he added.

The restaurant is to remain closed until the violations are corrected, and the facility passes inspection.

In a discussion of the Cecil Smith Landfill capping and closure plan, Public Health Director Wendy Henderson noted the Department of Environmental Protection has the ultimate decision but the Board of Health members could make some suggestions. "Suggestions could include want additional contaminant level testing, additional dust suppression on site and additional changes to the days and hours of operation," she advised. Board members agreed to the recommendations and Ms. Henderson will submit these additional proposals for consideration.

Board members continued to make changes in the Dartmouth Hotel, Motel and Guest Cabins regulations. The regulations will be adopted at a public hearing scheduled for the next Board of Health meeting on Monday November 18.